Any Pelican Bass Raider Owners Out There?

[BamaBassChaser]

http://bham.craigslist.org/boa/3056942184.html

What do you guys think about this one? I really don't know anything about these boats but after reading this entire thread I think I've found my next project . The one in the link looks a little rough but it could just be cosmetic. Would you even bother going to take a look? Thanks for any info.

[jaaron01]

http://bham.craigsli...3056942184.html

What do you guys think about this one? I really don't know anything about these boats but after reading this entire thread I think I've found my next project . The one in the link looks a little rough but it could just be cosmetic. Would you even bother going to take a look? Thanks for any info.

Well I'll be honest with you, it looks a little faded, which might mean it's been left out in the sun a lot. The worst enemy to these little boats is the sun and other elements. I only keep mine outside during the summer on the trailer, and under a canopy in the shade. During the winter time, I unload everything, and carry the entire boat down into the basement for storage and modifications, with the help of my future son-in-law.

I'd at least take a look if it wasn't much of a trip, but check it out really good. They will float even with a hole in them, due to the foam inside them, but again they weight a ton. There's several different versions of these boats out there, so you can find a new one for around $500.00 and get a warrenty. Another thing, check you local water regulations about registration and titles. In nebraska it's a pain to register boats without paperwork, and even worse if you get a trailer.

[ARH4AU]

http://bham.craigsli...3056942184.html

What do you guys think about this one? I really don't know anything about these boats but after reading this entire thread I think I've found my next project . The one in the link looks a little rough but it could just be cosmetic. Would you even bother going to take a look? Thanks for any info.

Looks OK in the ad. You can get a new 8" Pelican at Academy for $399. They also offer the 10' version for $499.

[BamaBassChaser]

Thanks for the replies! I didn't realize Academy had them that cheap.

[jaaron01]

Bolted everything down to the Boat floor, and now all I need is the seat mount bracket. Walmart was out, and I didn't want to drive over to Basspro tonight so Friday I'll finish her off. Used 4- 3 inch Lag bolts to hold my base to the floor, then 6-2 in lags to mount the metal base to the wooden base i built and covered. That was the worst part of the job, having to remove the battery and then the floor to get those bottom bolts in there, but it'll be worth it.

[Jim McC]

Looks nice. I just removed the plastic seat it came with, and replaced it with a pedestal base. I bolted the pedestal base to the frame using the original U-bolts that were used with the plastic seats. Worked great. This way I can use the same seats in my other boat also.

[dman]

Looks nice. I just removed the plastic seat it came with, and replaced it with a pedestal base and pedestal. I bolted the pedestal base to the frame using the original U-bolts that were used with the plastic seats. Worked great.

Have a pic of this setup?

[mtdoramike]

http://bham.craigsli...3056942184.html

What do you guys think about this one? I really don't know anything about these boats but after reading this entire thread I think I've found my next project . The one in the link looks a little rough but it could just be cosmetic. Would you even bother going to take a look? Thanks for any info.

For $200.00 I would be all over it faded or not. The questions to me would be is there a clear title & registration? Also how much wear is on the bottom of the boat, which is where the problem would be if there is a leak. The main issue with a lot of these boats is wear on the bottom from being dragged across shells, rocks and just normal sand. I recently bought a Bass Raider which was in like new condition and had only been in the water a couple of times. I didn't take time to flip the boat over before I bought it. Well, come to find out the boat was from Virginia, where the owner had used it a couple of time ON A RIVER! The river rocks had put some significant scrapes on the bottom of the boat. Fortunately none had penetrated the first layer of plastic. I paid $550.00 for the whole package, boat, motor, battery, and a ton of other stuff. But had I looked at the bottom before hand, I would have asked for a better price.

It just goes to show that outward appearance isn't all that important.

[Jim McC]

Have a pic of this setup?

Sorry, but I don't know how to post a pic. Do you want a pic because you can't picture how I did it? It's very simple once you get the old seat off. I used the pedestal base with the 3/4" pin hole design. It bolts to the seat frame with the original u-bolts.

[dman]

Sorry, but I don't know how to post a pic. Do you want a pic because you can't picture how I did it? It's very simple once you get the old seat off. I used the pedestal base with the 3/4" pin hole design. It bolts to the seat frame with the original u-bolts.

yea, i was just hoping to see it to get a good idea, im not too handy with tools and whatever the hell U-bolts are lol

[Zoff]

Sorry if this has already been posted...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/373982569326768/

[Jim McC]

yea, i was just hoping to see it to get a good idea, im not too handy with tools and whatever the hell U-bolts are lol

The U-bolts are already under the seat, holding the plastic seat to the seat frame. You don't need to buy any.

[jaaron01]

Got the Seat base tonight from Bass Pro and installed the seat. This plate has a 3 degree tilt to it, so the seat looks like it tilts back a little. (it's supposed to) Also while I was at it I went ahead and fixed up my Fish Finder Mount, and got the Gray Spray Paint and painted that mount and the piece I'd cut for the trolling motor.

Also was online today and found a manual for my boat. They were talking about condensation building up inside the boat and how to drain it. They said stand it up on its' bow and pull the plug. After almost 1 year, I finally figured out what that little black knob on the front of the boat was. Never crossed my mind it was a plug (see below). Learn something new every day.

One thing i did do was remove the spring from the bottom of the seat plate, as at a 170 lbs I didn't even begin to compress that thing, and it made the seat about 2 inches taller than it needed to be.

[mtdoramike]

My god you guys love to dd a lot of extra weight to your boats.

[mtdoramike]

To me, lighter is better.

[Jim McC]

The only thing I added to mine is 1/4" luan plywood for the floor. I doubt it weighs more than 20 lbs.

[bighoss]

Okay, it's been awhile since I've last posted an update. Basically this project is about 90% done. I found a homemade trailer I bought for $300 to haul around my boat in. Put a new harness, bearings, wheels/rims & paint. In the end, I decided I needed some storage, so I built a front end out of wood to hold a TSC black diamond plate truck box to store my 4-way, wheel chalks, tie downs, tools, etc.. etc... for the boat & trailer. I like the way it turned out. The trailer is about 5" 5" wide & 8ft long. I like how the boat slide in "under' the toolbox

Also, tossed in a picture of my battery I went with, along with my charger. Charger is a 15amp Schumacher "Ship & Shore" XCS15.

Plans in future include: Wood floor & 6" seat pedestals w/ higher backed seats. Also painting the wood frame the toolbox sit on to match the trailer

(I'm open to suggestions on a higher backed, comfortable seat - Keep in mind I'm a very large guy @ 300lbs)

Love the setup, sadly I've been working too much overtime at work at the moment to enjoy it. Although, that OT has helped me get the project done a lot quicker

[MallardDrake]

Last year I went into Dicksportinggoods with my buddy, and the lady upfront greeted us with, "our boats outside are now 50% off the regular price." We looked at eachother and said oh no lady, you should not have said that. So we went to pay for it, and it was supposed to be $250 (half off 499). However, when they went to ring us up, they only charged $215 including tax for a Bass Raider 10E. Since we bought it in October 2011, I believe I have caught more fish than I had my whole life(24 years).

All that being said, reading on this forum and seeing all the different modifications has me salivating, and I have a few questions. I bought a 34lb MK TM, and a fish finder that I mounted using the TM transducer mount and a suction cup for the display. Is it "safe", or an even better thought, a "good idea" to drill holes in the boat? If so, do you just use some kinda a sealing glue to "leak-proof" it?

I have so many ideas for this boat its not even funny. One day, I would LOVE to go bowfishing off of it.

[mtdoramike]

To me, lighter is better.

I'm a firm believer in that.

[mtdoramike]

The only thing I added to mine is 1/4" luan plywood for the floor. I doubt it weighs more than 20 lbs.

That would be the only addition that I would consider usefull to me. I will admit that during the summer, after 10:00am the floor can get down right hot on the bottom of my feet due to the sun shining down on the plastic flooring.

[Jim McC]

That would be the only addition that I would consider usefull to me. I will admit that during the summer, after 10:00am the floor can get down right hot on the bottom of my feet due to the sun shining down on the plastic flooring.

I did it for the heat, and also the flat floor and carpet is much more comfortable on the feet. I'm normally barefoot in the nice weather. I had some scrap 1/4" luan and it worked out great, and I weigh about 225.

[jaaron01]

My god you guys love to dd a lot of extra weight to your boats.

With the 5/8 plywood floor and carpet I probably added about 50lbs to the weight. Of course when you got a trailer and can just back it into the water and shove her off, it's not noticeable. With my weight and a passenger were still not close to the max weight, and my boat rides extremely high in the water. Having added the pedistal seat, and no longer having to bang my knees into the chair braces, I don't know how I lived with it. I'll leave the back seat as it is, as I normally fish alone.

[mtdoramike]

With the 5/8 plywood floor and carpet I probably added about 50lbs to the weight. Of course when you got a trailer and can just back it into the water and shove her off, it's not noticeable. With my weight and a passenger were still not close to the max weight, and my boat rides extremely high in the water. Having added the pedistal seat, and no longer having to bang my knees into the chair braces, I don't know how I lived with it. I'll leave the back seat as it is, as I normally fish alone.

When I bought my Bass Raider, the previous owner had installed like 7" seat risers. I hated them. I'm 5'10 and 225 pounds and my feet couldn't touch the floor of the boat, I felt like a child sitting in the seat. So those were the first things I removed from the boat.

[mtdoramike]

I did it for the heat, and also the flat floor and carpet is much more comfortable on the feet. I'm normally barefoot in the nice weather. I had some scrap 1/4" luan and it worked out great, and I weigh about 225.

I will look into putting down a layer of carpet over the floor just to have a barrier between the plasting floor and my bare feet.

[jeffo21]

mallard drake if ur looking for a good way to mount your transducer i have suggestion that i used. I had drilled holes in my raider but they wont hold good. I went to johnny ray sports they sell a mount that bolts to the tm shaft i used wing nuts on mine and take it off when i want now and its close enough and sturdy enough ur not gonna break it.